Scott Walker, International Befuddler

After
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s public performance in Great Britain left his London
audience “befuddled,” in the description of The Washington Post, a spokesman for the Democratic National
Committee made a generous offer.

“Do
any other GOP presidential candidates want to go to London?,” asked Mo
Elleithee. “If so, let us know. The DNC is more than happy to pick up your
travel costs.”

Actually,
Wisconsin taxpayers should welcome any cross-party financial assistance. Walker’s
four-day fake trade mission to England was certainly a pointless waste of
state money that was never really intended to do much of anything to expand
Wisconsin business.

As
for the trip’s real purpose, a shallow attempt to try to enhance Walker’s
international credentials as a potential Republican presidential candidate,
Walker was rather pathetic in his first try at growing into a towering
international figure.

Let’s
be clear. Real trade missions led by past governors, Democratic and Republican,
have reaped substantial benefits for Wisconsin manufacturers.

The
way you could tell they were real trade missions is those governors were
accompanied by a large number of high-powered corporate executives from many of
Wisconsin’s leading companies.

I
guess we’ll know Walker’s trade mission was a success if we see Queen Elizabeth
on a riding mower out in front of Buckingham Palace.

Most
of the other sightseers accompanying Walker were staff from Walker’s troubled
Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. (WEDC), the state agency that has
difficulty creating jobs and preventing its own top officials from quitting
theirs.

Another
sign of successful past trade missions is that they’ve opened up new, rapidly
growing markets such as China and the Pacific Rim, providing millions of new
customers for Wisconsin companies.

Does
anyone seriously think Walker needed to travel to England to establish trade
relations? Is there any country on earth with which we have longer and better
established trade? We’ve been trading with Britain ever since the U.S., pardon
the expression, evolved from them.

It
became obvious Walker’s trip was merely presidential campaign posturing when
almost all of his activities were the shallow photo ops of American
elections—visiting Margaret Thatcher’s grave, stopping by a Harley-Davidson
dealership and the oldest campaign cliché of all, yet another factory tour.

Punts on
Evolution Question

Walker’s
only public event was the one that brought him the most international ridicule,
when he refused to answer a question about whether he believed in the theory of
evolution at Chatham House, a think tank devoted to international affairs.

Justin
Webb, the BBC moderator of the question-and-answer session, later said: “I
asked it because it tells us about positioning [by right-wing Republicans] with
the party base pre-2016. And, frankly, it makes us laugh!”

Apparently, Britain thinks it’s hilarious that Republican
politicians from America have to adopt the ignorance of the Bible-thumping, backwoods
fundamentalists in the 1925 Scopes “monkey trial” and deny evolution to avoid
offending their more dim-witted right-wing voters.

That’s
why Brits amuse themselves by toying with Republican governors running for
president who make quick trips to England to try to pretend they know something
about the world.

They
previously embarrassed governors Chris Christie and Bobby Jindal into making
bone-headed statements about vaccinations and Muslims controlling European city
neighborhoods.

That’s
why Walker was determined to avoid revealing his total lack of knowledge about
international affairs by refusing to answer not only questions about evolution,
but any questions at all on international affairs before an organization
discussing international affairs.

Repeatedly,
no matter what the question was—Ukraine, Vladimir Putin, Islamic State
terrorists—Walker said he would only answer questions about international
trade. And his answer was he was for it. Who do you know wants to buy some
cheese?

“I
just don’t think you talk about foreign policy when you’re on foreign soil,”
Walker explained, conveniently standing on foreign soil. At another point,
Walker said, “I don’t think it’s wise to undermine the president of your own
country.”

Now,
that really is a sensational, headline-grabbing position for any Republican to
take these days toward President Barack Obama.

But
Walker quickly explained he only meant Republicans shouldn’t undermine the
president when they’re outside the United States. When they’re back in the U.S.,
undermine away!

“That’s
certainly something I will answer in the United States in the future,” Walker
promised.

Remember
when your mother used to say if you can’t say anything nice about somebody, you
shouldn’t say anything at all? Walker believes if you can’t say anything bad
about President Obama when you’re on a phony political junket, you shouldn’t
say anything at all.

So
Walker befuddled England by repeatedly saying nothing over and over and over
again.

Tags

Joel McNally is a national-award-winning newspaper columnist and a longtime political commentator on Milwaukee radio and television. Since 1997, Joel has written a column for the Shepherd Express where he also was editor for two years.

Comments (29)

I cannot tell you ow much fun it is to read your c...

I cannot tell you ow much fun it is to read your columns and listen to you whine. Walker and co, have kicked your butt all over state and you guys cannot even figure out how. After whipping you in debate over public radio I instructed Scott how to campaign. Held first fundraiser in my backyard.

Bob Dohnalmore than 4 years ago

I believe the unwritten rule is that you don't cri...

I believe the unwritten rule is that you don't criticize the president when the president is on foreign soil. So if Walker was attempting to invoke that rule, he botched that as well!

nobodys_faultmore than 4 years ago

If Walker had been smart, he could have said this ...

If Walker had been smart, he could have said this about evolution... "How do you know that God did not invent DNA and the ability to adapt and evolve? How do you know that he did not use evolution as His way to create plants, animals and man?"Back when Copernicus told everyone that the Earth orbited around the Sun instead of the Sun going around the Earth like the moon did, people fought this as bad as Conservatives fight Liberals today. Why? To accept that good old Earth and Man (as created by God in the good book of Genesis) was in fact NOT at the center of all creation, was to accept that maybe we are not chosen to be supreme. That we are just small and at the mercy of larger things...UNACCEPTABLE!!!If Earth and man is not the true center, then...Could it be that the Pope was not the true center of church leadership?Could it be that the King and Queen were not the true center of power?Could it be that common sense and the obvious was not absolute truth?Oh no, Conservatives cannot have any of that!!

WaukeshaGuymore than 4 years ago

The only reason that Walker is climbing the ladder...

The only reason that Walker is climbing the ladder is because he is an excellent liar and a sleazy back stabbing low life. Now watch this video to see the "real" Scott Walker....https://www.youtube.com/wat...

moochymore than 4 years ago

There is an century old unwillingness to follow wh...

There is an century old unwillingness to follow where the evidence leads. After Paulson pretty much nationalized the banks and the Maestro, Alan Greenspan (remember him?) admitted there were "some flaws" in his theory, Republicans, particularly in Wisconsin and Kansas have been having a mass doubling down. Their Laffer Curve MUST work or life will lose it's meaning, but even if it doesn't they will make out like trickle-down bandits. That's "success in life" - "winning".

Victor Bergermore than 4 years ago

joel should take that motherly advice to heart whe...

joel should take that motherly advice to heart when it comes to his rants about Walker. if Walker had commented on international affairs overseas, joel's article would be condemning him for it. but I forgot, the SE says it's an objective news source. SE should've punted on that comment.

belairjeffmore than 4 years ago

All the GOP presidential contenders went to Englan...

All the GOP presidential contenders went to England recently but the idiot that the Brits remember most is Scott Walker. The whole world laughed at Walker's stupidity and cowardice when he refused to answer simple questions from the British press. Of course the Brits can laugh because they're not stuck with the lying freak like we are. Scott Walker is a sick joke on all the citizens of Wisconsin.

moochymore than 4 years ago

It is ashamed that there are so many mis-informed ...

It is ashamed that there are so many mis-informed voters out there that will vote for this talking head with nothing between his ears. Evidently the KOCH brothers never gave Walker any talking points. This is one big joke.

Nova1492more than 4 years ago

I doubt anyone really cares about Joel's jealous r...

I doubt anyone really cares about Joel's jealous rant about the governor. What a weird obsession he has, rambling on and on about the governor. I will take Joel seriously when he becomes a multimillionaire, goes on trade mission trips, and is accepted by other mufti-millionares as credible. Note I say multi-millionares because just about everyone is a millionaire. Like they say if you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch.I believe in evolution. God did all of that in one day and made it look like it took millions of years. Just like watching a 3 hour movies and playing it fast forward. Its over in seconds. Was the movie 3 hours or 3 seconds? Doesn't matter, the movie played. The simpletons have difficulty in understanding that.

djlresearchmore than 4 years ago

Its article after article about it. It almost mak...

Its article after article about it. It almost makes me want to look back before Walker was Governor or County Executive to see what Joel wrote about then. Probably Tommy Thompson.

John832more than 4 years ago

Keep in mind Joel was run out of the Journal. He'...

Keep in mind Joel was run out of the Journal. He's lost respect of most white people. The past few years he'd been crawling on his knees begging to get accepted by minority groups, trying to be their friend. But even they think he looks foolish trying to be one of them. After awhile all they childish rants against the governor gets old. Walker could be the next Jesus Christ and Joel would find something to make fun of him about.

djlresearchmore than 4 years ago

You sir, are a voter deserving of Scott Walker. E...

You sir, are a voter deserving of Scott Walker. Enjoy your dumb state.

Victor Bergermore than 4 years ago

You just knew that when Walker came back to Wiscon...

You just knew that when Walker came back to Wisconsin, he was going to crawl back under his dark, slimy rock where nobody can ask him if he believes in evolution (or anything else). Walker is always hiding. Instead of playing "Where's Waldo?". we should be playing "Where's Walker?".It's amazing that a coward like Walker is actually in 2nd place in the GOP Presidential primary race. And yes, Walker is a coward according to his former high school science teacher. She says that Walker needs to "Man Up!". That would be difficult for somebody like Walker, who is so scared of Democrats that he crawls through a tunnel in order to get to his office in Madison.Wisconsin has never had a cowardly governor like Scott Walker and God help us so that we never see another coward like Walker again.

moochymore than 4 years ago

Three paragraphs of your typical ad hominem. What...

Three paragraphs of your typical ad hominem. What did you complain about before Walker was around?

John832more than 4 years ago

You have to remember,Moochy is a DOG,and by that i...

You have to remember,Moochy is a DOG,and by that i mean a Dog! i have seen her many times on the streets in Milwaukee!A true Ultra Liberal,thinks the world is flat,thinks Obama i heaven sent,and loves Gains Dog food!

budmanmore than 4 years ago

In my family Moochie was a collie with some endear...

In my family Moochie was a collie with some endearing human attributes. She was wasn't overtly political and was a friendly dog. Long after she was gone they talked about her antics.

Victor Bergermore than 4 years ago

Before Scott Walker, I complained about stupid Rep...

Before Scott Walker, I complained about stupid Republicans who dreamed of privatizing the UW because it fed into their stupid ideology. Congrats. Don't forget to finish the job.

Victor Bergermore than 4 years ago

Well, you're consistent at least. Also, I fail to...

Well, you're consistent at least. Also, I fail to see why my ideology of "I'll leave you alone if you leave me alone" is stupid. It seems to me the moral busybodies trying to insert themselves into other people's lives or take and spend other people's money are the stupid ones. Let people smoke, snort, inject, and screw whatever or whomever they want.

John832more than 4 years ago

And how about we continue to let them learn at a r...

And how about we continue to let them learn at a reasonable price at our great university? Even in your Hobbsian fantasy world, you have to bury the bodies or there is going to be disease. Welcome to civilization. Now learn to pay your taxes (lowest in the industrialized world) and stop being such a tightwad. If it wasn't for the monster right-wing attack dogs, we might again someday have a nice frugal state where people don't hate each other. Yeah, that place really did exist.

Victor Bergermore than 4 years ago

How about they learn wherever they want at whateve...

How about they learn wherever they want at whatever price the Institution they wish to learn at chooses to charge based on whatever sources of funding it is able to secure voluntarily?Civilization has existed for many thousands of years and doesn't require an omnipotent nanny State to maintain. We don't have to choose between anarchy and oppression by the State. Our Government was originally created to protect the rights of men.One of the reasons people hate each other is because the Government made their business our business. The only reason I have to hate welfare mothers is because I have to pay for them, if not for that I wouldn't care because I don't live in a place that has any.

John832more than 4 years ago

"The only reason I have to hate welfare mothers is...

"The only reason I have to hate welfare mothers is because I have to pay for them, if not for that I wouldn't care because I don't live in a place that has any."Well, well what planet are you from where there are no welfare recipients? There are plenty on welfare in the whitey white suburbs too.Do you hate corporate handouts as much?Welfare is a small drop in the bucket compared to corporate welfare.Do you really want hungry people running around your island? Doesn't seem like that would be safe place.

leftisrightmore than 3 years ago

To my knowledge of history the entire planet was d...

To my knowledge of history the entire planet was devoid of Government sponsored welfare until Augustus created the grain dole in Rome somewhere around the time we entered the Common Era.I live in a very small rural vacation community (think Breckenridge with less millionaires and no mountains). I suppose its possible some of the handful of families with kids here is on welfare, but the benefit of a small town is you tend to know everybody, so if Mary has 4 kids, no husband, and you see her working at the gas station you can probably guess she's on welfare, and I'm not specifically aware of anyone the meets my definition of "welfare mothers" (not that welfare families are much better, but with two adults you're less likely to actually qualify).And yes, I hate corporate handouts too (and wasteful military spending, and all other wasteful spending). The main issue for me is my money being taken against my will and redistributed to entities that didn't earn it. Who actually gets that money is a minor secondary concern, but to be perfectly honest I'd prefer a corporation gets it, because at least that might produce something of value for society, whereas welfare folks tend to produce more welfare recipients to feed.

John832more than 3 years ago

John, history is the story of more and more comple...

John, history is the story of more and more complex civilizations. Our government was formed to "establish a more perfect union". I don't have any kids. Paying for other people's kids sucks. The only think that sucks more is dealing with them if they are not properly educated and socialized. When that doesn't happen the cost goes up exponentially. This is why I am pro-birth control and ultimately pro-choice. One great thing about the United States are there are 50 of them plus some territories. Some of them are sparsely populated and have very low taxes. So what would make you think that you can change Wisconsin from a place that had socialist mayors in Milwaukee until 1960 and a progressive statewide tradition, and a culture of niceness and compromise and turn it into a libertarian paradise with out considerable resistance? Wisconsin history didn't start when you were born, dude.

Victor Bergermore than 3 years ago

Wisconsin history also didn't start with a sociali...

Wisconsin history also didn't start with a socialist mayor in 1910 either. 1848, the year of Wisconsin Statehood, saw numerous revolutions throughout Europe, most of which failed, resulting in a large number of exiles and immigrants with left leaning political ideologies.

John832more than 3 years ago

coward, standing up to the unions? that's cowardly...

coward, standing up to the unions? that's cowardly? buy dictionary, mooch. are you of age to be commenting on this site?

belairjeffmore than 4 years ago

Walker is such a coward that he uses his mother an...

Walker is such a coward that he uses his mother and father as human shields.Walker is such a coward that he crawls in and out of the State Capital through an underground tunnel because he's afraid to be seen.Walker is such a coward that he's afraid to show his face in public.Walker is such a coward that he has never had a press conference.Walker is such a coward that nobody knows where his freaky looking head is going to pop up.Walker is such a coward that he has never owned up to any of his mistakes. With Walker, it's always somebody else's fault or a drafting error or a staffer's error or a miscommunication or it's Doyle's fault or it's Barrett's fault or it's Obama's fault or it's the union's fault or it's the Democrat's fault or it's the liberal's fault or it's the teacher's fault or it's Milwaukee's fault or it's Madison's fault or it's the Potowatomi's fault or it's the Menomonee Indian's fault, or it's Doyle's fault again, but it's never Walker's fault.

moochymore than 4 years ago

i didn't mean for you to reply to my comment, pooc...

i didn't mean for you to reply to my comment, pooch, just to hear yourself talk. by the way, who gave the go ahead to build the $20+ million rest stop monstrocities ($20+million each) on 94 headed north in WI? Doyle. and let the Potawatomi casino license deal go beyond its original intent - from a mere bingo idea to full on gambling? Doyle. and what the unions did was the unions' fault. got fat on the members' dues. unions' fault. so - you got a lot of that right, pooch.

belairjeffmore than 4 years ago

The only unions left in Wisconsin are the ones tha...

The only unions left in Wisconsin are the ones that are being paid to protect Mein Fuhrer, Scott Walker.

RUFF!...

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